DAMIEN JOYCE'S hopes of becoming a pop star are not just a pipe dream - thanks to his father's favourite pastime.

For dad Dennis is so hooked on puffing on his pipe that Damien named his band after him - and now Denbo's Pipe are drawing in attention from record giants EMI.

After just six months together the three-piece band have just released their debut CD, No Fixed Abode, and now have dreams of making it big on both sides of the Atlantic.

Speaking from the family home in Laburnum Drive, Oswaldtwistle, Damien, 29, said: "We can't believe that EMI are interested in us and in a funny sort of a way it's down to my dad smoking a pipe. He loves his pipe and I thought it was a good catchy name for the band. Damien, who now lives in Southampton, added: "We sent out a demo tape to EMI in New York and we've heard they are very keen. We know it is early days but we would love to make it big and our next aim is to tour America."

The former Mount Carmel student is no stranger to travelling. He's just returned from a globe-trotting mission playing to audiences from Australia to South Africa.

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